As expected, Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson is officially out for the remainder of the 2012 season. Burleson broke his right leg in Detroit's loss on Monday night to the Chicago Bears and was placed on injured reserve by the Lions on Wednesday.
The recovery for the injury is expected to be around eight months, which means that Burleson should be healthy come training camp in 2013. But it will be an open question whether the Lions will keep the aging Burleson, and $4.5 million salary, around for 2013.
Burleson will end the 2012 season having caught 27 passes for just 240 yards and two touchdowns for a Lions offense that has not performed up to expectations so far this season. In three years in Detroit, Burleson caught 155 balls for 1,622 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Lions hope that receivers like Titus Young, Kassim Osgood and Ryan Broyles can help pick up the slack in the receiving core.